Study linking autism to MMR is published

One of the scientists who believes that there may be a connection between autism and the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has published new research suggesting a link.

Dr Vijendra Singh, of Utah State University, found that many children with the developmental disorder had an "inappropriate immune response" to the measles component of the vaccine.

Although Dr Singh has presented similar studies before, the new research on 125 autistic children and 92 children without autism appears in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

The researchers found a "significant increase" in MMR antibodies in the blood of autistic children. The measles component caused an unusual antibody response in 60 per cent of the children with autism, compared with none of the 92 children without the condition.

Dr Singh has argued that autism may be caused by an autoimmune response in which antibodies target the basic building blocks of myelin, the insulating sheath that covers nerve fibres. His latest paper, in the Journal of Biomedical Science, does not prove that MMR causes autism; autism may be responsible for the unusual response to the MMR antibodies.

However, in the journal, Dr Singh and colleagues report: "Stemming from this evidence, we suggest that an inappropriate antibody response to MMR, specifically the measles component thereof, might be related to pathogenesis of autism."

MMR vaccine uptake for 16-month-old children fell from 76.2 to 70.1 per cent between December and March, but rose to 72 per cent in April. Uptake for 24-month-old children fell from 85.8 per cent to 84.4 per cent over the same winter period, then rose to 85.9 per cent.

The Public Health Laboratory Service, Department of Health and British Medical Association have all consistently said the vaccine is safe.

But the pressure group Jabs (Justice, Awareness and Basic Support), said the new research strengthened its case for the suspension of MMR use.

Jonathan Harris, a spokesman, said: "We have said all along that it affects only a certain subset of children, causing a new type of autism in children whose immune systems have not really been tested fully."